Recovery strategies for industrial development in native grassland in the Northern Fescue natural subregion of Alberta

Authors: Lancaster, J., B. Adams, P. Desserud, M. Neville

Publication Date: 2017

Abstract/Summary: Alberta’s Grassland Natural Region is significantly modified by land use practices. Much of the native grassland in the Northern Fescue Natural Sub-region (NF) has been lost to cultivation and fragmented by industrial activity and roads. Soils and climate of the NF promote the spread of invasive non-native plants when soils are disturbed. This document identifies strategies designed retain and restore NF grassland plant communities following industrial disturbance.
The manual describes tools available for planning native grassland retention and restoration, including pre-disturbance planning and recovery strategies, such as minimal disturbance, buffers, natural recovery and native seed mix design. Implementing a strategy is explained including site preparation, soil amendments and procuring native seed, then maintaining the pathway using invasive plant and grazing management, and long-term monitoring. Appendices include a summary of regional reclamation studies and suitable seed mixes to develop target plant communities for ecological range sites common in the NF.